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Helping students prepare for NAPLAN tests

During the second week of May Australian children in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will take part in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). The stated purpose of this testing program is to gain an overall picture of educational attainment levels to assist education policy and decision-making.
The program first implemented in 2008 has drawn some criticism from a number of different quarters, particularly in regard to the use of the information gained through the NAPLAN tests. You’ve probably heard a number of different viewpoints expressed in the media over the last few weeks.
One view commonly put forward is that the NAPLAN tests put undue pressure on children to perform in test situations. If so, then perhaps the best approach for parents and teachers is to help them handle the pressure rather than avoid it. The mo...(sign-up as a member to continue reading this article)

Michael is the author of 9 parenting books, including his new release Tech your kids to SHRUG,Thriving! and the best-selling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change it.

His popular parenting columns appear in newspapers and magazines across Australia. He appears regularly on television including Channel 10’s Studio 10, and is a popular & entertaining speaker as well as a frequent columnist for a variety of written media. He also has a regular fortnightly half hour parenting segment on ABC radio Victoria.

Michael has an education background,and holds a Master of Educational Studies with research into what makes healthy families tick. He has conducted over 1,500 parenting seminars over the last two decades.

Michael is married with three adult children who have all successfully flown the parent nest.